Hendra’s Shot at Badminton Glory Fading

The former national player was in action in two events — men’s doubles and mixed doubles — and came away empty-handed both times during the second day of the Super Series Masters Finals in Johor Baru, Malaysia.

First, Hendra teamed up with men’s doubles partner Alvent Yulianto Chandra in a 21-19, 21-19 loss to South Korean pair Jung Jae Sung and Lee Young Dae at Bandaraya Indoor Stadium. Then in the afternoon, Hendra hit the court again with Vita Marissa but the result was the same, a 21-18, 21-17 loss to India’s mixed-doubles tandem of Diju V and Jwala Gutta.

Hendra and Alvent, who also lost Wednesday’s opener, are out of the running for a place in the semifinals. They battle Anthony Clark and Nathan Robertson of England in their last Group B match today.

However, Hendra and Vita still have a shot at advancing in mixed doubles, but they will have to get past Clark and Donna Kellogg today to secure a spot in the semifinals.

Three Indonesians were playing in do-or-die matches after press time.

Taufik Hidayat was looking to stave off elimination in a men’s singles match with world No.1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia. Rian Sukmawan and Yonathan Suryatama Dasuki were hoping to keep their campaign alive in men’s doubles against top seeds Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong of Malaysia.

Taufik, who has not won a Super Series event this year, lost a two-set heartbreaker in his first match.

Rian and Yonathan also dropped a close one in their opener, a 26-24, 22-20 decision to the Chinese pair of Xu Cheng and Guo Zhendong.